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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 4 · Chapter 18: Pṛthu Mahārāja Milks the Earth Planet
4.18.84.18.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 4.18.9-10

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.18.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

वत्सं कल्पय मे वीर येनाहं वत्सला तव ।

धोक्ष्ये क्षीरमयान्कामाननुरूपं च दोहनम् ॥ ९ ॥

दोग्धारं च महाबाहो भूतानां भूतभावन ।

अन्नमीप्सितमूर्जस्वद्भगवान् वाञ्छते यदि ॥ १० ॥

vatsaṁ kalpaya me vīra

yenāhaṁ vatsalā tava

dhokṣye kṣīramayān kāmān

anurūpaṁ ca dohanam

dogdhāraṁ ca mahā-bāho

bhūtānāṁ bhūta-bhāvana

annam īpsitam ūrjasvad

bhagavān vāñchate yadi

Translation

O great hero, protector of living entities, if you desire to relieve the living entities by supplying them sufficient grain, and if you desire to nourish them by taking milk from me, you should make arrangements to bring a calf suitable for this purpose and a pot in which the milk can be kept, as well as a milkman to do the work. Since I will be very much affectionate towards my calf, your desire to take milk from me will be fulfilled.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Nourishes All Living Entities

  1. 1

    To obtain milk, the earth requested a suitable calf, an expert milkman, and a proper pot. A cow gives sufficient milk out of affection for her calf.

  2. 2

    Similarly, the earth supplies necessities through her affection for those who are Kṛṣṇa conscious. Human conduct affects the well-being of other living entities.

  3. 3

    When human beings behave properly, animals also receive sufficient food and can be happy. People have a duty to protect and feed animals, not kill them to compensate for grain scarcity.

Key points from the purport
  • The cow must first have a calf so that out of affection for the calf she will voluntarily give sufficient milk.
  • Just as a cow cannot deliver sufficient milk without being affectionate to her calf, the earth cannot produce sufficient necessities without feeling affection for those who are Kṛṣṇa conscious.
  • Just as a calf can derive milk from a cow, all living entities — including animals, birds, bees, reptiles and aquatics — can receive their respective foods from the planet earth, provided that human beings are not asat, or adhṛta-vrata, as we have previously discussed.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Anger and disorder → Duty and devotion. Kingship shifts from domination to stewardship and renunciation.

Chapters 13–23 of Canto 4: Vena and Pṛthu: power, the Earth and stewardship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 18: Pṛthu Mahārāja Milks the Earth Planet

Pṛthu and others milk the earth; he provides citizens with food, employment, and places to live.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.18
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vatsama calf
  2. kalpayaarrange
  3. mefor me
  4. vīraO hero
  5. yenaby which
  6. ahamI
  7. vatsalāaffectionate
  8. tavayour
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.18

    In this verse: “protector”, “protect”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.18

    In this verse: “duty”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How seriously do I take my responsibility for the nourishment and protection of animals?

Practice

Make one small contribution today toward providing suitable food or protection for an animal.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Consciousness Nourishes All Living EntitiesThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.18.9-10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.